//------------------------------// // 5. What's happening to dad? // Story: Sisters of the Storm // by Volgrand //------------------------------// After the mountain fire, winter fell with all its force upon the mountain. The ponies had little time to speculate about the burnt cabin. Like every winter, the neighbors took refuge in their homes, only coming out to visit each other, but not leaving the village. One winter morning, Star was getting ready to leave. She bundled up because, even though the road to the healer's house was short, the wind would steal the heat from her body in a matter of minutes. "I'm leaving, Mom," said the young filly. "Alright. Listen to Plantain carefully, okay?" "Yes, Mom," responded Star, annoyed by her mother's insistence. As soon as she opened the door, a blast of cold air welcomed her, carrying snowflakes behind her. Star stepped out, closed the door, and walked quickly to Plantain's house. She saw one of her neighbors - in fact, Mulberry's father - outside, collecting the accumulated firewood to feed the fire. Star greeted him with a nod, and he returned the greeting. As soon as Star turned her back, she felt a shiver run down her spine. A shiver that had nothing to do with the cold. She turned around, puzzled, only to see the pony enter his house. What was that? Star felt a strange fear engulf her. She looked at the house, puzzled, but saw nothing else. It was as if... "Joyness was gone," she thought. Star stood still for a few seconds. Then she smiled and shook her hoof in front of her face, as if shooing the idea away. It had definitely been a silly thought. Surely the grass and cabbage stew from the previous night had not sat well with her. Still laughing at herself, Star continued walking to Plantain's house. When she was about to knock on the door, it opened in front of her. But she didn't find her teacher there; instead, she found a pony: Mulberry's mother, Berry Punch. "Uh... hello," Star greeted her. "Hello," the mare replied quietly. Star looked into her eyes. She was a mare a bit older than her mother, with a very light pink color and dark green hair. She had been crying, the streaks of tears still visible on her face. Not only that, but the mare's sadness infected the apprentice healer just by looking at her. "Are you okay?" the young one asked. Mulberry's mother opened her mouth to answer but seemed to change her mind. "I'll leave you to it, you have to study to become a great healer," she said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Uh... sure." Saying this, the mare went out into the snow towards her house. Star watched her go, knowing that she was going through a great depression. What could have happened to her? Could it have something to do with her husband? "Come in, Star, and close the door, the heat is getting out," Plantain Hooves shouted from inside the house. Star entered, shaking off the snow and taking off her coat. Her teacher, as always, was waiting for her in his workroom's armchair, but this time he was writing in his journal, where he recorded details of the ponies he treated. "Did you see her?" the old stallion asked. "Yes... yes, I did," Star replied. "What do you think?" "She was very sad, and not just because she cried. She's very depressed, as if... as if she has no hope? I think I'm imagining things too much." The teacher smiled and invited Star to sit at the table. Still scribbling in his diary, he said: "You have a lot of empathy, Star. No, you're not wrong. That pony is on the brink of a deep depression." "Why?" asked Star. "Hmmmm..." Plantain only said this for a while, while scribbling with his pen on the diary. "It doesn't make sense, what she's saying, Star. It just doesn't make sense." "Can't you tell me?" asked the apprentice. "Maybe I'll see something that you missed. I know Mulberry very well." "You're right, Star," Plantain responded with a smile, "but she asked me not to tell anypony what she told me. Plus, I think she's having relationship problems, and the winter is making it worse." The young mare nodded. Of course, if you had problems with someone and you were forced to see them day after day... "Well, Star," began the healer, "I've given her some plants and infusions that will help her cope with the sadness she's feeling. Which do you think they are?" Star felt like sighing. Great, first thing in the morning and he was starting with her exams. Let's see... plants to cheer up, for sadness... "Um... rocket extract and honey?" Plantain's face became serious. She had made a mistake, and if she did it again, she would get a good knock on the head. "Come on, think Star, think," thought the apprentice. "Um... almond root and berry infusion?" Plantain relaxed again and a smile crossed his wrinkled face. Star breathed a sigh of relief. "And why the berry infusion?" The relief of Star lasted only a short time. The exam had only just begun. The hours of class with Plantain went fairly well, despite the test she had put Star through. After bundling up warmly, Star left the healer's house and headed back to her own. The snowstorm had worsened and she could even hear thunder. It was still daytime, so she couldn't see the lightning. She passed by Mulberry's house again and stopped. She was worried about her friend and his family. It could just be a family quarrel -these things happen in every household from time to time- but what if it was something more serious? She stood there for a few minutes, braving the winter storm, and finally realized that if she didn't try to talk to Mulberry and something more...serious...happened later, she would never forgive herself. She went up to the door and knocked with a hoof. There were noises inside and Mulberry's mother's voice shouting, "One moment!" She opened the door herself. She seemed calmer than when Star had seen her in the morning, and there were no signs of tears on her face. The mare looked at Star with a mixture of surprise and concern. "Oh...hello, Star Whistle." "Hello, Berry Punch," Star replied. "Is Mulberry here?" "Yes...yes, he is. But today is not a day to go out and play, Star." "I know, it's really cold," said the young mare, shivering slightly. "I just wanted to see him. Can I come in?" "What did Plantain tell you?" The question thrown by Berry Punch was asked forcefully and, to some extent, with anger. "Nothing. He just told me that you asked him not to say anything. And he hasn't." "Are you sure?" asked Mulberry's mother. Star watched as she looked at her. Normally, when any pony asks for something to be kept a secret among healers, it's just because they're embarrassed about it getting out, many times because they did not want to worry their family. But with Berry Punch, it was different. She looked at her directly, with her eyes wide open and ears raised. She leaned slightly forward, in what would seem like a threat. But to Star, it seemed more like a defensive gesture. Berry Punch was scared. "You can relax. When Plantain promises to keep a secret, he'll take it to the grave." "Oh..." the mare smiled slightly. "Thank goodness." "Berry Punch, what's wrong? If you have a problem, you know we'll all help you." "No, Star, nothing's wrong. Don't worry." The mare was lying very clearly. "Are you sure?" "Yes, I'm sure," she said, making her expression tougher. "I'm sure it's none of your business, Star Whistle. Go back to your house." Saying this, Star found the door closed in front of her snout. She backed away from the sudden slam and she stood there for a few moments, shocked. It was true that Mulberry's mother wasn't an overflowing with sympathy pony, even with her closest friends. But she was a very proper pony, and she had never behaved like that with anypony. At least, that's what Star thought. The young mare returned home. As she did, the snow stopped falling, but the wind and cold persisted. Surely, there would be a big thunderstorm that night. When she entered her house, she was greeted by the smell of roasted potatoes stuffed with carrots. "Hi Mom, I'm home!" exclaimed Star, as she always did when she returned. "Hi dear, how was your day?" "Well... Mom, do you know Mulberry's parents?" "Very little, Star. Why?" "You see..." Star told her what had happened: how she found Berry Punch in the morning, and what happened when she tried to go see Mulberry. She didn't mention the strange feeling she had when she saw his father, as she still thought it had been her imagination. "I wouldn't worry so much, dear. Berry Punch has always been known to be a bit standoffish. It sounds like a relationship problem. They will solve it." "I don't know, Mom... it's strange," said Star. "Dear," continued Glittering Star, "there are things even a healer like Plantain can't intervene in. Learn from him and stay out of it, unless they come to ask for your help." "Yes, I suppose you're right." The rest of the day passed without incident. Star took the opportunity to review the healing herb book a bit before nightfall. When night came, Star entertained herself by looking out the window, waiting for the storm to light up the night. But, although she could hear thunder rumbling among the clouds, they seemed reluctant to release lightning bolts or flashes. Star grumbled a bit, disappointed. It was curious, but after getting lost in a stormy night seven years ago, anyone would expect the apprentice healer to be afraid of lightning. But strangely, Star really liked stormy nights. She liked to see how lightning illuminated the mountain with its flashes, making shadow drawings that otherwise never appeared. But well... the night wasn't in the mood to give the young girl a show. She had dinner with her mother and then both went to bed. In the middle of the night, Star was suddenly awakened by a dry noise. She thought she had dreamed it, but when she heard it again at her window - Clock Clock Clock - someone was knocking on the shutters. Star got up, lit a candle, and went to look. She opened the window and partially opened the shutter. On the other side, she saw a colt of her age: Yellow coat, green mane... Then she opened the shutters completely. "Mulberry! What are you doing here? You'll freeze!" "I needed to see somepony. Can I come in?" he asked. Star stepped aside to let him in. He was freezing, he must have been outside for a couple of hours. Besides... he seemed anxious for company, as if he felt alone. Star reached for one of her blankets. "Mulberry, what happened?" she asked as she threw the blanket over him. "I just needed company," he said, looking away. "Don't lie to me," Star replied. "I don't believe you came on a winter night just looking for company. What's wrong ?" "It's just... I can't tell you. You'll think I'm crazy," he said, lowering his head. Star stood in front of him, sat down, and with her hoof made him look into her eyes. The young mare seemed about to burst into tears. "Mulberry, I'm the healer's apprentice. Believe me, I've heard some very strange things. But we're friends, right?" "Yes... we are," he replied. "Then you can trust me. What's wrong? I've never seen you so... hurt." The young mare looked at him until a tear escaped his eye. Mulberry took the blanket with his hoof and wiped his face, trying to control himself. Star put him beside her and stroked him with her hoof. "It's okay Mulberry, it's okay. When you calm down, you can tell me, okay?" Mulberry nodded his head, not yet managing to do so. "I'll go prepare an herbal infusion for you, alright?" Star left her room, leaving the door open, and went silently to the kitchen. The fireplace still had some embers burning. She gathered the extinguished pieces of wood with the embers to revive the fire a little, filled the kettle with water, and put it on top. While it heated up, she searched for the herb she wanted: Valerian. Plantain told her that with honey and lemon, it was the ideal infusion for somepony who was suffering - it would help them calm down and sleep deeply at night. Which is what Mulberry would need. She took the teapot by its wooden handle - which was cold - with her teeth, while balancing two wooden cups filled with herbs on her snout. It was a skill her mother had taught her as a game when she was younger. She passed her mother's door. Not hearing any noise behind it, she assumed she must be sleeping. Good, she could explain what happened in the morning. Star entered the room walking sideways to try to keep the cups balancing on her snout. Mulberry, seeing his friend juggling, couldn't help but laugh slightly. "He, he, he, you should join the circus, not be a healer," said Mulberry. "Thrrrmfsyu," grunted Star without letting go of the teapot. Mulberry closed the door while his friend poured two cups of the infusion. It smelled very good, like herbs with honey and lemon. They sat down to drink. The foal was already calm and had stopped crying. "Do you want to tell me what's going on?" asked Star. "It's... it's my father." Star looked at his friend. He had never seen him so... sad. Almost as sad as he had seen his mother Berry Punch this morning, if not more. "For a while now... when he looks at me... I don't know. I can't explain it," whispered Mulberry. "What happens when he looks at you? Is he angry?" "No... it's not that. He doesn't get angry. He never gets angry anymore..." "I don't think I understand," said Star. Mulberry took a long sip of the hot infusion before continuing. "Well... it's been a few months now that when he looks at me, I feel like... he doesn't love me anymore. I don't know why, and I know no one else sees it. But I feel it. I've asked him if something's wrong, and he always says no and laughs. But that laugh... it's like he's not my father anymore," the foal sniffled before wiping away new tears. "And I know Mom feels it too, I do, but she won't listen to me when I try to tell her." "What did you mean when you said your dad never gets mad anymore?" Star asked. "That's just it," Mulberry clarified. "When he started looking at me like that... I tried to get him to react. I was a really good ponybecause I thought I had misbehaved, but nothing changed. So I tried to misbehave and broke a window... and a cloth that my grandmother, my dad's mother, had woven. But he didn't..." "He didn't do anything?" Star asked incredulously. Mulberry shook his head. Now Star really didn't understand. If she broke some of her grandmother's memories, she was sure her mother wouldn't talk to her for weeks. "I don't know what I did wrong, Star. I just don't know," Mulberry cried. Star hugged him. "I don't think you did anything wrong, Mulberry. I don't know what's wrong with your dad either, but I'm sure it can't last forever. Eventually, he'll come around, I'm sure of it." "Are you sure?" Mulberry asked through tears. "Positive," she said with a smile. "He's your dad. Sooner or later he'll come around, you'll see." They stayed like that for a while until Mulberry calmed down. "Star, can I stay the night, please? I really don't want to go home right now." "But what about your parents? They'll be worried if they wake up and don't see you at home." "I left them a note," Mulberry explained, "saying that I was going to sleep at a friend's house." "I don't know..." Star looked at her friend. Just then, a thunderous thunder sounded over the town, once again without a lightning bolt accompanying it. The weather was really bad and besides... she knew Mulberry would feel better sleeping with someone. "Of course, you can stay," she said finally. She rearranged the bed in which she sleep, spreading the straw a little more to make it bigger, and put blankets on top. It would be less fluffy than usual, but they both would sleep well. Between the two, they prepared the bedding and lay down after extinguishing the candles. "Thank you so much, Star. I knew you would listen to me," Mulberry said. "You're welcome. Good night." "Good night." After a few minutes lying down, Star felt Mulberry turn over. She wondered worriedly if he was going to try to hug her or something... but soon she heard him breathing deeply, before snoring. Star smiled. Valerian was truly miraculous. But what Mulberry had told her... it worried her. If what he said was true (and she was sure he wasn't lying), what Star felt for her father in the morning shouldn't be a coincidence. What if something really had happened to Mulberry's father? It was all very strange. She would have to tell her mother... and maybe Plantain... Thinking about this, the infusion took effect on the filly, who fell into a deep sleep.